SAS-1121 explained

SAS-1121 is an organic molecule which binds to a specific protein, the sigma-2 receptor, found in cell membranes. It is highly selective for this over the related sigma-1 receptor. The sigma-2 receptor is significant in cancer and some neurological illnesses.

These two receptors are cell surface receptors: proteins in a cell membrane which pass a signal to the cell when some external molecule binds to them.

SAS-1121 is 280-fold selective for the sigma 2 receptor (K_i = 23.8 nM) over the sigma 1 receptor (K_i = 6659.6 nM),^[1] and served as a tool compound to help identify the sigma 2 receptor as transmembrane 97 (TMEM97).^[2]

SAS-1121 is classed as a norbenzomorphan-piperazine.

Notes and References

1. Sahn. James J.. Hodges. Timothy R.. Chan. Jessica Z.. Martin. Stephen F.. 2017-04-13. Norbenzomorphan Scaffold: Chemical Tool for Modulating Sigma Receptor-Subtype Selectivity. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters. 8. 4. 455–460. 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.7b00066. 5392765. 28435536.
2. Alon. Assaf. Schmidt. Hayden R.. Wood. Michael D.. Sahn. James J.. Martin. Stephen F.. Kruse. Andrew C.. 2017-05-30. Identification of the gene that codes for the σ2 receptor. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. en. 7160–7165. 10.1073/pnas.1705154114. 0027-8424. 28559337. 114. 27. 5502638. free.